A Queensland police officer who allegedly helped a mate who was subjected to a domestic violence order (DVO) track down his former partner should be sacked if found guilty, a domestic violence advocate says.
It is alleged the senior constable accessed private records of the woman's latest address and passed the details onto her ex-husband.
It is further alleged that the officer then joked about it in a series of text messages to the man.
Police have confirmed that Ethical Standards Command (ESC) was aware of the matter but a spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment further until the investigation was complete.
The allegations were lodged with the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) by the woman last June after she allegedly heard how her ex-partner got her home address, but the matter was referred back to the ESC.
The Queensland Police Minister's office said it could not comment pending the investigation.
'Reckless with another person's safety'DV Connect spokeswoman Diane Mangan said she was shocked by the alleged actions of the officer.
"Like everybody else I am quite stunned - I can't imagine that someone would be that reckless with another person's safety," she said.
"I think he minimised what the impact of what may have happened to that woman."
Ms Mangan said she hoped he was just a "rogue" cop but called for him to be sacked if found guilty of the offence.
"I think this is a betrayal of trust," she said.
"For someone who should know better to actually put a woman's life in danger - I think he has forfeited his right to be in that service."
The alleged text messages joked about how the woman would "flip out" once she knew she had been tracked down.
Stalking expert Dr Phil Watts, who was in Brisbane attending a family violence conference, said he was very concerned this kind of private information could be released.
The forensic psychologist said it was very concerning that both men also joked about the incident.
"It is probably how he has rationalised what he is doing - like he has been fed a story about the ex which has probably distorted his perception," he said.
"So he is now acting in some immature way with his mate, which is how he has justified what he has done - thinking it is not that serious.
"Don't know whether he is a rogue officer or whether it is something within the culture."
Police 'working hard to educate officers'However, both the professor and DV Connect praised the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for initiatives in educating officers about domestic violence.
The QPS has also set up a specialised Domestic Violence Unit.
Ms Mangan said she felt for the QPS, as it was working hard to educate its officers.
"I know personally all the work that is being done between our two services and I know how proactive the programs are that police are putting in place," she said.
Dr Watts agreed, but added: "But at the end of the day if that sort of thing is still happening, they still have some more work to do in their education."
This article was written by LEXY HAMILTON-SMITH and has been copied from here.
It is alleged the senior constable accessed private records of the woman's latest address and passed the details onto her ex-husband.
It is further alleged that the officer then joked about it in a series of text messages to the man.
Police have confirmed that Ethical Standards Command (ESC) was aware of the matter but a spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment further until the investigation was complete.
The allegations were lodged with the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) by the woman last June after she allegedly heard how her ex-partner got her home address, but the matter was referred back to the ESC.
The Queensland Police Minister's office said it could not comment pending the investigation.
'Reckless with another person's safety'DV Connect spokeswoman Diane Mangan said she was shocked by the alleged actions of the officer.
"Like everybody else I am quite stunned - I can't imagine that someone would be that reckless with another person's safety," she said.
"I think he minimised what the impact of what may have happened to that woman."
Ms Mangan said she hoped he was just a "rogue" cop but called for him to be sacked if found guilty of the offence.
"I think this is a betrayal of trust," she said.
"For someone who should know better to actually put a woman's life in danger - I think he has forfeited his right to be in that service."
The alleged text messages joked about how the woman would "flip out" once she knew she had been tracked down.
Stalking expert Dr Phil Watts, who was in Brisbane attending a family violence conference, said he was very concerned this kind of private information could be released.
The forensic psychologist said it was very concerning that both men also joked about the incident.
"It is probably how he has rationalised what he is doing - like he has been fed a story about the ex which has probably distorted his perception," he said.
"So he is now acting in some immature way with his mate, which is how he has justified what he has done - thinking it is not that serious.
"Don't know whether he is a rogue officer or whether it is something within the culture."
Police 'working hard to educate officers'However, both the professor and DV Connect praised the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for initiatives in educating officers about domestic violence.
The QPS has also set up a specialised Domestic Violence Unit.
Ms Mangan said she felt for the QPS, as it was working hard to educate its officers.
"I know personally all the work that is being done between our two services and I know how proactive the programs are that police are putting in place," she said.
Dr Watts agreed, but added: "But at the end of the day if that sort of thing is still happening, they still have some more work to do in their education."
This article was written by LEXY HAMILTON-SMITH and has been copied from here.
